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What I Got For Christmas

Sunday 31 December 2017


It's been almost a week since Christmas, the Quality Street have been demolished, the tree is coming down and I finally have some time to appreciate the gifts I received this year. I know these types of posts are a bit of a Marmite subject, but I love them so I decided to put out my own one.

The Ultimate Cosy Winter Evening

Sunday 17 December 2017


If you follow me on Instagram then you will probably have noticed that I'm not exactly a party girl, I'm all about the cosy nights in, I like nothing more than a good pamper with a pizza in the oven and my favourite Christmas film on TV (Love Actually, of course). By now I think I've found the perfect formula for a relaxing festive evening, so I've put together a starter pack of the essential steps that you can take to turn a miserable winter night into a cosy Christmas party for one.

Mon Guerlain - The Perfect Gift for a Special Someone*

Friday 15 December 2017


If you were to take a look at any of my Christmas to-do lists from years gone by, you would notice that they all have one thing in common, "buy a gift for Mum" is always the final step remaining to tick off. My Mother is one of the most important people in my life, so I like to make sure that she receives something extra special at Christmas time, a gift that says "thank you" and "you mean the world to me". Recently, I discovered the beautiful fragrance from Guerlain, Mon Guerlain, and as soon as the scent hit my skin the search was over, I knew I had found my Mum's new favourite perfume. 

What's on my Christmas List?

Sunday 10 December 2017


We're now just a couple of weeks away from the big day, and the countdown is officially on! All of my presents have been bought (none are wrapped), so I'm turning my attention to the gifts that I would love to receive for Christmas this year. This post is more of a fantasy wish list than a list of requests, as I don't really ask my family for gifts anymore, but who knows, maybe one of Santa's elves will get hold of the link!

A Lifestyle Gift Guide

Sunday 3 December 2017


With only 21 shopping days remaining until the big day,  I'm back with my second gift guide, and this time it features my top lifestyle present ideas including some home and fashion bits. I've really enjoyed putting this one together, so let's get into it! 

Choosing the Perfect Fragrance

Sunday 26 November 2017


Fragrances are probably the safest gifts you can buy for a loved one, and they can also be the most wonderful when chosen well. My perfume choices have defined some of the best memories of my life, a waft of a certain scent takes me straight back to family holidays spent in the sunshine, or falling in love for the first time, bringing the memory back to life in a way that not even photographs can. Fragrance Direct is my favourite shop for fragrance purchases, because they have such a huge range of brands and scents, and I can always find the perfumes on my wishlist for a great price! Here are two of my top picks for Christmas 2017. 

A Beauty Gift Guide

Sunday 19 November 2017



With a little over a month remaining until the big day, now is the perfect time to start ticking off those present purchases. Gift guides are my favourite posts to read, so I've put together a list full of beautifully packaged, luxury products which would make amazing gifts for the makeup and skincare addicts in your life. 

Charlotte Tilbury's Naughty and Nice Magic Box

Sunday 12 November 2017


This year I decided to treat myself to my first ever beauty advent calendar, and despite all of the amazing products that are on offer this year, only one really caught my eye, Charlotte Tilbury's Naughty and Nice Magic Box. At £150 this is certainly one of the more expensive options, but as a hardcore Tilbury fan I knew it would be worth every penny to me. 

Autumn Style Essentials with Daniel Wellington

Sunday 5 November 2017


A little while back I was fortunate enough to be sent Daniel Wellington's newest watch, the Classic Petite Ashfield*. With it's black dial and strap and rose gold hardware, it's pretty much the perfect autumn wardrobe addition, so I thought I would show you what I have been wearing it with recently. 

Three Face Masks to See You Through the Autumn

Sunday 22 October 2017


There's just something about dark, chilly autumn evenings that makes me want to put on a face mask, eat a tub of quality street and sink down under the duvet with a good book. I've picked out three of my all time favourite masks to see you through the bitter months, so grab a mug of hot chocolate and let's begin! 

6 Simple Flatlay Photography Tips

Sunday 15 October 2017


I receive a lot of messages asking me for flatlay photography advice, so I decided it was about time I wrote another post! I'm going to make this one a "quick fire" list of tips, featuring six simple steps that you can introduce to your flatlays right now, without having to buy any equipment or having learn any new complicated camera settings. Let's get started!

Beating The Instagram Blues

Sunday 8 October 2017


I don't need to explain to you what the "Instagram Blues" are, you've probably struggled with them before or are fighting through them right now. The combination of follow/unfollowers, the algorithm and shadow bans have slowly chipped away at our contentedness in Instagram as a platform, to the point where many of us are wondering if it's actually worth the hassle at all. Recently my relationship with the 'gram has started to improve, and my followers and engagement have been growing steadily, so I thought I would share some tips for making life on Instagram more enjoyable, and successful. 

September Favourites

Sunday 1 October 2017


I'm back with my second favourites post! Recently I have been pretty good with sticking to my makeup budget, so this one is going to be a mixed bag of beauty, home-ware and style favourites from the month of September. Grab yourself a cup of something warm and let's get started.

A Cosy Autumn Evening Wishlist*

Sunday 24 September 2017


Autumn is officially here, and I'm already looking forward to cosy evenings spent huddled under blankets and oversized knits, sipping hot chocolate and eating soup with chunky bread. I've made myself a list of "quiet night in" essentials for when the weather turns chilly, so I thought I would share it with you!


Pamper

Photo From uk.loccitane.com

Nothing says cosy night in more than a pamper session, especially in the colder weather when my skin is chapped from the bitter wind. This autumn I want to try an exfoliating face mask from L'Occitane*, since my skin reacts so well to their products, and they always smell incredible. I have had my eye on the Divine Cream Mask which is a rich cream mask containing Shea Butter, formulated to help with extremely dry skin (which I suffer from almost all year round) but the Pivoine Pure Flash Moisture Mask also sounds so lovely, and apparently smells like Peonies! My skin is quite sensitive but L'Occitane skincare products are usually very gentle and soothing, so I'm excited to try their scrubs and masks.

For me autumn is also known as "bath time", so I really want to invest in some relaxing bath products to help me to wind down after work. I've heard great things about Aromatherapy Associates, especially their bath oils. I like the look of the Relax, De-stress, Revive box, which sounds perfect for soaking away the worries of the day.  


Loungewear


Photo from thewhitecompany.com

It's officially dressing gown and knitted socks season, because there's nothing worse than stepping straight onto the icy bathroom floor with bare skin first thing in the morning. I have added these cashmere socks from The White Company to my autumn wishlist every year for as long as I can remember, but this year I will finally take the plunge. They're expensive and I don't really need them, but they're a little luxury that will make the dark, frosty mornings so much more bearable. 

I like to treat myself to a new fluffy dressing gown every year, and this year I've decided that I would quite like to be a unicorn, so I'm adding this one from ASOS to my shopping basket. Since I'm going all out with my dressing gown choice, I'll probably opt for some simple PJ's, this set look super comfortable, perfect for curling up on the sofa to watch Harry Potter in.  


The Extras

Photo from westelm.co.uk

Once I've got my PJ's and face mask on, I'll be reaching for a soft cuddly blanket, and this dusky pink one from H&M will certainly do the job. I'm also on the hunt for a wicker basket to store them in, and of course this one from West Elm has caught my eye. If you know of any alternatives then please let me know! 

So those are the products on my autumn evening wishlist, what will you be adding to your pamper routine? 


Fx 
*This post is sponsored by L'Occitane

My New Favourite Brand at Debenhams

Wednesday 20 September 2017


NYX Professional Makeup is one of my favourite affordable brands, their Epic Ink Liner is up there with my all time favourite eyeliners, and I live in their Soft Matte Lip Creams, so I am super excited to announce that they are about to become more accessible than ever, as they are now stocked Debenhams! To celebrate the launch, Debenhams very kindly send me over some of their most popular products to review for you, so lets get started.

Pore Filler and Shine Killer Primers*


I've never really been a primer wearer, my skin is both dry/dehydrated and very sensitive, so I've really struggled to find the right formula, however, I think I may have finally found my perfect match in the form of Pore Filler. This lightweight primer glides onto my skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky, creating a flawless base for my foundation (or at least as close to "flawless" as my skin will ever be). I've been wearing it everyday for a little while now, and so far no breakouts or clogged pores. The second primer I received, Shine Killer, does what it says on the tin, it helps to create a matte base and keeps excess oil at bay. Since I have very little in the way of oil, this primer didn't really do anything for me, but I'm going to keep it for the warmer months when I can be prone to the occasional oily patch.


Butter Gloss - Strawberry Parfait*




As a recent gloss convert, I have fallen in love with the Butter Gloss range, and the shade Strawberry Parfait is one of my favourites. This fuchsia pink looks a little bright and scary in the packaging, but when applied it becomes much less opaque, creating a pretty, everyday wearable pink. I'm also obsessed with the candy floss scent, and have to stop myself from licking it straight off of my lips.


Soft Matte Lip Cream in Budapest*

I have a huge collection of Soft Matte Lip Creams, they're actually one of my favourite liquid lipstick formulas because they don't try out my lips at all. The shade "Budapest" is a perfect autumn berry, which looks beautiful against my slightly tanned skin. I find the Soft Matte Lip Cream range to be so low maintenance and easy to wear, with minimal touchups needed throughout the day. 


Lip Lingerie in Exotic*

I had heard great things about the Lip Lingerie Range, so I was excited to receive one in the shade Exotic, a surprisingly wearable reddish brown. I've found that this one is a little more drying than the Soft Matte Lip Cream, but the lasting power is incredible, and I had no fear of it migrating around my face during the day. Given the choice between the Lip Lingerie and Soft Matte Lip Cream ranges, I would definitely choose the Soft Mattes, but I am still happy to have this shade in my collection, and I'm sure I'll get lots of wear out of it this autumn.

Liquid Suede in Downtown Beauty*

Last up for the lipstick picks we have one from the Liquid Suede range in the shade Downtown Beauty. This shade is definitely not for me. On my lips it comes off as a mud coloured brown, with a strange hint of green, which doesn't flatter my skin tone at all. However, I did a Google image search of this shade, and it looks incredible on those girls, so this is definitely one to swatch on your own skin! I did love the formula of this, I would say it's the least drying of the bunch, so I would feel comfortable wearing it even on a chapped lips day. I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of the range and picking up a more "me" shade.


Ultimate Shadow Palette in Cool Neutrals*

Now on to the palettes! I was so excited to receive the Cool Neutrals eyeshadow palette, as I don't currently own anything like it. I am generally more of a warm toned kinda girl, but I am always happy to push myself out of my comfort zone and to try new things, and I've actually discovered some shades that work really well for me. I found some of them to be a little bit powdery, but also super pigmented, so I would advise not overloading your brush when you first use it. For the price this palette is incredible, and I'll definitely be adding Warm Neutrals to my collection soon!

Contour Intuitive Eye and Face Sculpting Palette in Jewel Queen*

Containing two highlights, one blush and six eyeshadows, Jewel Queen is incredible value for money. I've fallen in love with the ultra sheeny white highlight shade, which packs a serious punch in the glow department, without a glitter chunk in sight, and also the pink toned highlight which I have been using as a blush topper. The eyeshadows are mostly cool toned, but they sell variations of this same palette with warm shadows which I will also be adding to my Debenhams basket!


Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette*


Last but not least, we have the Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette. By now I'm sure you're aware of my highlight palette addiction, and this one makes the perfect addition to my collection. All of the shades are seriously pigmented, with my favourite being the palest, which luckily comes in a huge pan! For a budget friendly palette it offers an amazing selection of shades, and is comparable to Sleek's Solstice palette (my previous favourite) in terms of value for money. I definitely recommend checking this one out!

So those are a few of the NYX Professional Makeup products now available at Debenhams, will you be adding any to your basket?

Fx

*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

Santorini with Fragrance Direct

Sunday 17 September 2017


Way back in June I collaborated with one of my favourite brands, Fragrance Direct, for Fathers Day (you can read the post here, if you're interested.) For this campaign, they decided to run a competition where they would vote on their favourite Fathers Day content, and the best post would win a trip to Santorini ... and I won! I wouldn't class myself as a "lucky" person, I never ever win competitions or giveaways, so when I received the email I ran around my house for a good minute screaming at my very alarmed cats, before typing out a teary-eyed reply. I thought I would try something new and share a few photos with you, because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. 



We stayed at the Crown Suites in Kamari, a beautiful little hotel just a few minutes walk from the beach. My room was by far the biggest I have ever stayed in, and we had a huge terrace area with views of the sea, which was very welcomed in the 30 degree heat! Kamari is known for its black sand beaches, hundreds of restaurants and "easy" access to Ancient Thira (it's easy if you go up in a bus, me and my boyfriend attempted to walk the steep mountain hike and almost passed out after 5 minutes). Most of our time in Kamari was spent eating, drinking and sleeping, so I would love to go back and spend a couple of days just relaxing by the pool.  




We decided to pay a visit to Fira, a pretty town packed full of trinket shops, cute little walkways and breathtaking views of the sea. This is where I ate the infamous Vegetarian Pitta (chips and lettuce in bread) and almost got trampled to death by about 30 donkeys, who apparently have right of way when walking down the steep cliff faces. 



On our final full day, we visited the stunning town of Oia (pronounced eeh-ya), which is where almost all of the iconic shots of Santorini are taken. Its best known for its picturesque white buildings with blue domed roofs, and is where you can take the most beautiful sunset photos. Unfortunately we didn't make the sunset (by 3pm we were sweating buckets with sore feet and sleepy eyes) but I did manage to take some of my favourite photos of all time. If you're heading to Santorini, add Oia to the top of your "to visit" list, I promise you won't regret it. 




I hope you liked this post, I know it's a bit of a different one for me! Once again, thank you so, so much to Fragrance Direct for making this happen, it was a trip I'll remember for the rest of my life. You can read about the amazing products that Fragrance Direct sell in my previous posts (here and here), or just check them out for yourself!

Have you visited Santorini? 

Fx 

A Fragrance Direct Haul

Sunday 27 August 2017


Before I buy any beauty product, I like to have a quick check of the Fragrance Direct website, because so often they will have the exact same product at a slightly discounted price. Some of my favourite brands that they stock include Clinique, Clarins, Bobbi Brown, NARS and Rimmel, but they have hundreds of brands, covering skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance. In addition their already super competitive prices, they also offer a 10% Student discount all year round via UNiDAYS, so you can save yourself even more pennies. Right, now on to the haul. 

NUXE Micellar Cleansing Oil*


I always double cleanse my skin, and in the summer I'll opt for a micellar water for my first cleanse, just because it's the quickest way to remove the bulk of my makeup. However, with autumn approaching I find that the water style formula is just a bit too drying, so I've decided to try this Micellar Cleansing Oil from NUXE, which is still hassle free but is a little more gentle on the skin. I love that this oil leaves my skin feeling super soft, but also completely removes my makeup, plus it makes my face smell amazing (thanks to the rose petal ingredient), which is something that you don't typically get from a micellar water. 


Tigi S Factor Diamond Dreams Shampoo and Conditioner *


This set is a BARGAIN (capital letters required!) priced at only £17.95, containing 250ml bottles of Tigi S-factor shampoo and conditioner, plus a bottle of Flat Iron Shine Spray. I assume the low price is because the box actually has little snowflakes on it, so it's probably intended to be given as a Christmas gift, but since I am shopping for myself, I wouldn't care if it had Santa himself printed onto the bottles.  

All three of these products smell incredible on application, and they leave your hair smelling amazing even after styling. The shampoo and conditioner are nice, but don't do anything special for my hair (they certainly don't leave it sparkling as it says on the bottle- though I'm not sure I would want that), but the flat iron spray is the winner for me, as it definitely adds more shine to my locks, making it my current favourite heat protectant. 

Clarins Illuminating Cheek Colour* and Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge*


I love buying blushers, in fact I probably own more of them then most other products (highlighters excluded), so I decided to try out this one from Clarins. I love the packaging of the compact, it's a very pale gold metal, and it comes in a little velvet pouch - very luxe.  I opted for the shade Rose Wood, which is a warm reddish rose, because I already own lots of pink blushes. Within the mosaic effect there are two squares which contain shimmer, which you can swirl your brush into for an illuminating effect, or you can just dab your brush onto the solid shades for a more natural flush. I find this blush to be very subtle, but buildable, which I personally love because I can be a little heavy handed when I'm in a rush! I know I'm going to get a lot of wear out of this one in the autumn months. 

As a self-confessed blush addict, I also picked up one of Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge Cheek and Lip products in the shade pale pink. I remember these bobbing around the blogosphere a few years ago, so I'm glad to finally have one in my collection! I've been applying this to my cheeks and lips with my finger, because I couldn't seem to pick up much product with a brush, but I don't mind as it means I can get a more precise application. I'm not too keen on the way the shade looks on my lips, I think it's a bit too cool of a pink tone, though it is incredibly comfortable to wear. However, I love the healthy flush it adds to my cheeks. As a dry skinned gal I like that this isn't a "blush to powder" formula, because that can leave me looking a little cakey, but if you do have very oily skin then you might want to pat a powder blush over the top of this one. 

Chloe Love Story Fragrance*


Of course it wouldn't be a Fragrance Direct haul without a fragrance, and this time I opted for an adorable mini bottle of Chloe's Love Story. I love Chloe scents because they are so gentle and feminine, and this one is no exception, containing beautiful hints of orange blossom and jasmine. Once I've used up the little bottle I will definitely be heading back to the Fragrance Direct website to pick up the fully sized version. 

So that's my little summer haul, I'm so happy with the products I picked up. It's definitely inspired me to do another big Fragrance Direct shop soon, because they sell everything I need! Will you be picking up any of the products I've featured? 

Fx

*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

A Luxury Beauty Wishlist*

Wednesday 23 August 2017


I thought it was about time that I made another wishlist, since I've now purchased almost everything on my previous one! I've decided to focus this one around luxury beauty products, because they are my favourite items to spend my hard earned cash on. I just love the feeling of finally owning a beautiful perfume or lipstick after months of obsessing over it, so I'm going to show you some of the products that I can't get out of my mind this month. 

Perfumes are my favourite luxury beauty product to own and to gift, because they can be so personal and heart-felt, and if you manage to find the perfect scent it will stay with you for a lifetime. Having added my first Jo Malone fragrance to my collection (I went for Red Roses, and I love it), I'm now dreaming of purchasing my first ever Clive Christian Fragrance* because everything about them, from the intricately designed packaging to the rare precious ingredients they contain, ooze luxury. I'm particularly interested in their limited edition perfume sets, because I've fallen in love with the idea of buying the feminine one for myself, and the masculine version of the same scent for my partner. On their website they talk about how, in the Victorian Era, you would gift a perfume to tell a story or to send a message, which is a concept that really appeals to the die hard romantic in me! 

Next up is a skincare product that has been on my wishlist for many moons (pun intended) - Sunday Riley's Luna Sleeping Night Oil. I've read so many rave reviews about this overnight skin treatment, with claims that it heals and restores your skin as you snooze, leaving your skin fresh, glowy and free from blemishes. Though I don't expect this product to work miracles on me, I would love to see the effect it could have on my dry, acne prone skin.  

Another skincare product I've been dreaming of lately is Aerin's Rose Night Table Cream. My skin generally takes really well to products containing rose, and this moisturiser/overnight mask is supposed to be a wonder product for skin types that are very dehydrated, so I'm convinced that this could be a new holy grail option for me, plus it comes in a pink pot! Now just to come to terms with the £60 price point ...

Although candles don't technically fall under the "beauty" umbrella, I couldn't create a luxury wishlist without including the one item I have been longing to add to my collection for years - a Fornasseti Candle. These candles come in the most beautiful ceramic jars which you can use to store jewellery or trinkets once it has fully burned, which admittedly will take a while, as they burn for 60 hours! As we sell these candles at work I have been fortunate enough to get to sniff them all, and I have fallen in love with Ortensia, which has a floral scent containing white rose and jasmine. I've already saved a spot for this beauty on my dresser, so now to start saving the pennies!

When it comes to luxury makeup brands, Tom Ford is the king of them all. I currently own one just one Tom Ford lipstick, which I am almost too frightened to use incase the embossing fades, but that hasn't stopped me from obsessing over these stunning gold cased bronzers. The only reason I haven't already picked one up is my indecisiveness over which shade to choose for my pale skin, although right now I'm really liking the look of "Bronze Age" so I think that might be the one that I eventually choose. 

Last up on my wishlist of dreams is possibly the most beautifully packaged lipstick that has ever existed - Christian Louboutin's Matte Lip Colour. I was actually given a HUGE box of these to colour match at work (and I mean huge - I had to check about 150 of these little beauties!) which is where I first fell in love with them. Though I had to give them back after a few days (they had to surgically remove them from my greedy little clasp) I did get to swatch every single one of them, so I can vouch for the fact that the formula and shade range of these lipsticks is incredible. I still haven't decided on my favourite shade, but I'm leaning toward one of the reds.

If you made it to the end of this post with your bank balance in tact then well done you! Let me know if you have added any of these products to your wishlist!

Fx 

This post is sponsored by Clive Christian 


A Huge US Beauty Haul

Sunday 13 August 2017


This year I made the dangerous mistake of not writing myself a Sephora shopping list, but thankfully fate led me to meet up with the beautiful (and very talented) Amelia in Las Vegas, and together we created the Sephora basket of dreams. Here's what I picked up. 

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream - I had been lusting over this so-called miracle cream for such a long time, so I was super happy when Amelia told me it was at the top of her list too! We searched the whole store, which was a mission because the Caesar's Palace Sephora is HUGE, before finally finding a small sized pot in the travel section. The little pot still contains 75ml of product, which is more than enough for me to properly test it out, and if I love it I can always order a backup from Cult Beauty. I've been applying this for about a week now, and though my bum is far from perfectly smooth and peachy, it does smell incredible, and it leaves my skin feeling so soft.


Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Eyeshadow in Kitten Karma- I think I may have found the most beautiful eyeshadow in the world. As soon as I swatched this gorgeous champagne shade I knew I had to have it, there's just something about the way that the little specks of glitter reflect the light that makes my heart flutter like a butterfly. I'm so smitten with this shadow that I can't imagine myself reaching for another shimmery eye shadow ever again (well, let's see), and I immediately want to buy it in every shade they sell.



Tarte Rainforest Of The Sea Skin Twinkle Palette Vol 2 - I had planned to repurchase Tarte's Pro Glow To Go palette, since I've now hit pan on two of the shades, but then the Skin Twinkle palette caught my eye and there was no going back. The shades are quite similar to those in the Pro Glow palette, but the pans are much bigger and there are four of them, so it actually works out to be great value for money, plus the packaging is so beautiful! 



Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight - It's a very close call, but I would have to say that these drops are my favourite pick of the haul. The expression "good skin in a bottle" has never applied to a product more, if by "good" you mean glowy/dewy skin of course. You can use these drops in a ton of ways, which I will show you in a
dedicated blog post soon, but I've been loving mixing them with my foundation for an all over radiant look. 

Origins Ginzing Peel Off Mask - By the time we made it to the skincare section we were almost giddy with the joy of beauty hauling, so finding a rose gold face mask pretty much sent us into hysteria. This is actually the only purchase that I feel a bit guilty about, because I could have easily picked it up in Boots at home, and because it's such a gimmicky product, but I am still super excited to try it! The description claims that this peel off mask will tighten pores and brighten skin, so it might turn out to be a great spur of the moment purchase, I'll keep you updated. 

Sephora Contouring Brush Set - I've never yet managed to walk out of a Sephora store without a set of their brushes, I'm a sucker for them! I always find them to be great quality, super soft and fluffy, plus this set comes with a pretty rose gold bag to store them in. 



Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer and Touch Of Blur Concealer - I actually picked up these bits from a Walgreens in San Francisco. I had wanted to track down the Butter Bronzer because I've read so many great reviews from American bloggers, but it was actually sold out everywhere! I'm so glad I managed to find it on my 5th attempt, and I can't wait to let you guys know if it's worth the hype. I spotted this concealer on Caitlin's blog, and the adorable packaging had me swooning. I picked up the lightest shade because it wasn't possible to swatch it, but it actually looks quite dark. Luckily I have a bit of a tan from all of the time spent by the pool, so it should be a good match for the next couple of months, I'll let you know how I get on. 


Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette - I have been lusting after this palette since it came out, so I am so incredibly happy to finally have it in my collection. Having seen so many great reviews and creative tutorials, I can't wait to use this for the first time, and to review it for you. 

Congratulations if you made it to the end of that huge list! I spent a little more than I had planned to (totally blaming Amelia for that - don't forget to check out her blog!) so now I'm on a spending ban for the foreseeable future. Let me know what you thought of my picks, and what is on your Sephora list.

Fx 

My Flawless Summer Skin Routine

Sunday 6 August 2017


I'm writing this from Sunny Las Vegas, where I'm currently sitting beside the pool, eating an ice cream and desperately hoping to catch a bit of a tan in the 40 degree heat. In an attempt to look less like a ghostly Londoner I've upped my body preparation game this year, so I thought I'd share my summer skin routine with you. 

Shower and Scrub 


Fake Tanning requires a perfectly clean canvas, so I always start by showering with something super moisturising to make sure my skin is as soft and smooth as possible. I love using Patisserie De Bain shower products* because they smell so incredible, this range literally smells of lemon sherbert sweets! Next up is perhaps my least favourite part of the fake tanning process, exfoliating. Right now I'm just using a Superdrug vanilla scrub, but I think it might be a bit too harsh/gritty for my sensitive skin, so I'm on the hunt for an alternative. Let me know if you have any suggestions.


After all of that scrubbing I like to layer on a body moisturiser, and this super gentle but incredibly hydrating Rose Care Lotion* from Jurlique is perfect for making sure any traces of dry skin are banished, it also leaves me smelling like rose petals (my favourite scent!)  


Tan 


As a total tanning newbie, I'm still in the process of figuring out how to fake that perfect golden glow. Learning from my first experience (the mahogany hands situation) I purchased a tanning mit from Loving Tan, and it's made a world of difference! It doesn't absorb too much product, it just helps to ensure everything is distributed nice and evenly. My current fake tan of choice, which came highly recommended by Fran, is Loving Tan's Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in the shade Medium. The first time I used it I was so freaked out by the dark brown colour that I only used a tiny amount, which didn't actually make any difference, even to my super pale skin. My last couple of attempts have been much better, although I somehow always manage to miss patches on my legs. Fingers crossed I'll have it all figured out by the end of summer! 


Fake it 'till you make it


After my previous failed fake tan attempts I decided to try a different approach to flawless skin - makeup. I had read so many amazing reviews about Vita Liberata products, so I picked up Body Blur in the shade Medium/Latte, and I have been wearing it exactly as I would wear a foundation, just all over my body. It doesn't add a whole lot of colour to my skin, but I love that it evens out my skin tone so beautifully, covering up all of the little bumps and scratches on my legs, and helping my skin to look a little more sun kissed. For an extra dose of faux healthy glow, I like to apply a little bit of Tanya Burr's Body Illuminator all over my arms and legs. The difference is subtle, but this extra step makes me feel so much more confident, and it takes hardly any time at all! 

So that's my little routine for glowy summer skin. Let me know if you have any tips or tricks in the comments. 

Fx  

*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 


The Beauty Products I'm Taking On Holiday

Sunday 16 July 2017


In just a few days time I'm off to sunny Las Vegas/ San Francisco for two weeks, and by this point I'm just so excited to have a little break away from the stresses of London life! I've decided that I will be a little better organised this year, since I'll be gone for such a long time, so I thought I would talk you through the makeup and skincare items I'm taking with me as I pack them into my already bulging suitcase.

Skincare


Holiday skincare is always a struggle for me, since my usually very dry/troublesome skin tends to be better behaved in warmer climates (and Vegas is going to be very warm - 46 degrees of warmth, to be exact!) My first priority was to find a good facial SPF, since every one I've tried so far has broken me out, including the Kiehl's one which is supposedly breakout proof. This year I've decided to give the Origins A Perfect World Day Cream with SPF 40 a try. Origins products are always crammed full of lovely ingredients, and this moisturiser with White Tea is no different. I'll update you in a couple of weeks with a whole review on how my skin reacts.   

Carrying on with the accidental tea theme, my next holiday skincare pick is the Green Tea Leaves Moisturiser* from Garnier. When I first saw "mattify" in the description I thought I was going to hate this one, but it's actually very hydrating for a cream which is so light, and even I suffer from a few oily patches in hot climates so this could come in handy!

Makeup 


I hate wearing makeup on holiday, but unfortunately my skin is still going through it's stroppy teenager phase, so I don't have to confidence not to wear it. I've chosen my makeup options based on how comfortable they are to wear, and how low maintenance they are likely to be in the sweltering heat. 

My first makeup choices are both from a brand that I've just discovered, Pixi by Petra. I'll admit that the Sheer Cheek Gels* look a little scary in the packaging, but they are actually incredibly subtle on the skin, adding just a pop of colour to my usually pasty face. I like to apply them underneath a light foundation for a "lit from within" healthy look. Once on they almost act as a stain, making them completely budge proof in the tepid London weather (I'll definitely be testing their lasting power in Las Vegas!)

My second Pixi picks are the GelTint & SilkGlosses*, aka the most comfortable lip products known to man. I've been getting a lot of wear out of these recently because once applied, I forget I'm wearing them! The double ended design includes a stain on one end (this is the budge proof bit) and a gloss on the other end (which adds a punch of hydration). I honestly believe Pixi are on to a winner with these, and luckily I have all three shades, so I won't have to look at another lip product whilst I'm away! 

I like to make sure I have my base options covered for just incase I get a tan (ha!) So I've purchased my all time favourite drugstore foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix, in two shades, one which is a few shades darker than my usual choice so that I can create the shade that I need. Healthy Mix is the only drugstore foundation I've tried that can be built up to be full-coverage without looking super cakey. In England I tend to favour my trusty Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, because I really need the 12+ hour lasting power, but on holiday I'm unlikely to be out an about for such long amounts of time, so I can touch it up where I need to.  

Another new product to my collection is the contour stick from Tanya Burr's Makeup line. I decided to pick this up because I adore her stick blushes, so if the formula is at all similar then I know I'll love this too. I hate wearing too many powdery layers on my skin in the summer months, because I want my makeup to look undetectable, so I'll be trialling this one next week. 


Last up is another new product to my collection, and this one is a purchase that I'm feeling more than a little guilty about. I've been eyeing up YSL's Touch Eclat Blur Perfector for so long now that when I saw it in the Feel Unique sale I didn't hesitate to snap it up, despite the fact that I've read really mixed reviews about it. The packaging is absolutely beautiful, which I'll admit played a heavy part in my need to own this compact, but I was also really interested by the concept of an "invisible foundation". I'm planning to wear this as a finishing powder, and I'll have a full review ready for you on my return. 

So those are the products I'll be taking away with me next week! Let me know what's in your essential holiday kit in the comments. 

Fx 

*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 
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